CVE-2026-53808

Description

OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an approval policy bypass vulnerability in the Skill Workshop apply flow that allows agent tool calls to set apply: true despite approvalPolicy: pending configuration. Attackers can exploit this by reaching the affected apply path to apply workshop changes before the expected approval step, potentially modifying configurations without proper authorization.

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CVSS v3.1 Score

6.5

MEDIUM

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

EPSS — Exploit Prediction

0.0019

Probability of exploitation

0.09%

Percentile rank

EPSS estimates the probability that this vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. A higher score means more likely to be exploited.

Weakness Type (CWE)

CWE-863 Incorrect Authorization

Affected Products

Vendor	Product	Versions
openclaw	openclaw	< 2026.5.6

References

Advisories & Patches

https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/security/advisories/GHSA-cqwv-9qjx-vxw2

Other References

https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/openclaw-approval-policy-bypass-in-skill-workshop-apply-flow

Frequently Asked Questions

What is CVE-2026-53808? +

OpenClaw before 2026.5.6 contains an approval policy bypass vulnerability in the Skill Workshop apply flow that allows agent tool calls to set apply: true despite approvalPolicy: pending configuration. Attackers can exploit this by reaching the affected apply path to apply workshop changes before the expected approval step, potentially modifying configurations without proper authorization. It has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 6.5 (MEDIUM).

How severe is CVE-2026-53808? +

CVE-2026-53808 has a CVSS v3.1 score of 6.5 out of 10, rated MEDIUM. This is a medium-severity vulnerability that should be remediated as part of regular maintenance. The EPSS score is 0.0019, placing it in the 0th percentile for exploitation probability.

What products are affected by CVE-2026-53808? +

CVE-2026-53808 affects products from openclaw, specifically: openclaw. Check the affected products table above for specific version ranges.

How do I check if I'm vulnerable to CVE-2026-53808? +

You can use Secably's free Website Scanner to check your website for known vulnerabilities. For infrastructure scanning, use the Port Scanner to identify exposed services that may be affected. Check the vendor advisories linked above for specific patch and version information.

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